Michelle's Blog

This is what I do. I work.

If you have no clue what I do for a living, this may enlighten you.  A little.  I work for Logitech.  We make extraneous things for the computer - mice, speakers, keyboards, web cams, etc.  I'm a Global Product Marketing Manager for PC gaming mice.  So I do a lot of talking to gamers, going to gaming events, reading up on gaming.  But I don't game.  That will need to change now that Quake 4 is out. 

My job is a general management role.  I work with industrial designers, engineers, sales people, corporate marketing folks.  Pretty much, my job is to define product specifications and shepherd a product through the development lifecycle.  I travel quite frequently to Europe and in the U.S.  Going to China next month.  It's a fun job, and I work with cool people. 

Anyway, here are some photos from the job (click on them for a bigger view).  Sorry this is a boring post.  It's been so long that I wanted to just get ANYTHING up there. 

These are my co-workers in my dept.  We went on an outing to wine country.

This is a gaming mouse I work on - the G5, on display at Germany's Games Convention.

The sea of gamers you typically see at gaming events, like here at Blizzcon. 

My Itty-Bitty Nano

My cute little ipod Nano arrived in the mail today.  I went with white, engraved with my name and email so she never has to spend the night in the lost and found.  I'm so glad I was behind the curve on this one.  Everyone else went out and already spent their quid on a mini or shuffle or big daddy ipod. 

This thing is so rad.  Incredible packaging.  Super thin and lightweight.  Little color screen, and it fits 1000 songs.  Photos, games, oh my.  Only sad thing is my CD collection may become obsolete now.  :-( 

I'm gonna buy some Logitech ipod speakers and cordless headphones for it.  Plug, plug.  50% off discount means I'm becoming a technophile. 

Next techno purchase: Sony PSP.  I got 3 free cases for that from a fellow product manager at work.  Makes sense that I have get something to put in them.   

My Evil Doppelganger

Everyone has one.  You know you do.  Mine wears frosted eyeshadow.

Have you ever Googled yourself?  I naively didn't realize that it was worth Googling myself for the longest time.  You'd be surprised what can come up, especially when your name is rather unique, like mine.  Anyway, I discovered that not only is my namesake on a school for neuroscience, I apparently have an evil doppelganger.  She's young, she's blonde, she's a cheerleader from the OC.  But of course she spells her name with one L. 

http://www.beachpride.com/modules.php?name=Cheer_Team&file=allgirl_profiles#

I Love 33s

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be a DJ because I love putting music to moods and memories.  In my mind, my life has always had a soundtrack.  My earliest recollection of childhood is of my dancing for my aunt to Blondie's 1980 #1 hit, "Call Me," in the basement of my grandparents' home.  I remember in 5th grade building a DJ stand out of Omagles (these life-sized lincoln log-like toys) and spinning records for my sister's 3rd grade party.  I've owned hundreds of records and tapes and CDs throughout my life.  My close friends know I like to control the music selection at parties or in the car if I can.  In fact, one of my nicknames christened for me by my friend, Corecoop, is DJ Mofo Fire (stupid I know, but endearing). 

So it should come as no shock to many that I'm dreaming of attending a DJ academy to learn the art of spinning records in the next year.  There are decent schools of spin all over--SF, NYC, LA, etc.  You can do several-week classes or do some super-immersive short-term seminars.  Either way, it costs about $500-$1,000 to take something like this.  I'm game.  And if I'm decent, I might even purchase equipment.  Girl DJs are hot so why not? 

If anybody out there wants to join me, let me know.           

Painful Play

These students from Anderson b-school introduced me to this crazy game.  You basically compete against 3 other players to beat the clock so you don't get an electric shock.  It's disturbingly addictive.  http://www.wonderfullywacky.com/lightning-game.htm

My First Post

Just crossed the chasm.  Finally started a blog.  Feels good this expression thing.  I've always been pretty open about myself.  So I guess this can be the ultimate manifestation of that.  More than you ever wanted to know about me and what I think about things.  It's so satisfying being this self-indulgent.